1-(5-Carboxy- and 5-carbamoylindol-1-yl)propan-2-ones as inhibitors of human cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha: bioisosteric replacement of the carboxylic acid and carboxamide moiety.

Indole-5-carboxylic acids and -carboxamides with 3-aryloxy-2-oxopropyl residues in position 1 were previously reported to be potent inhibitors of cytosolic phospholipase A(2)alpha (cPLA(2)alpha) isolated from human platelets. In continuation of our attempts to develop novel cPLA(2)alpha inhibitors, a number of derivatives of these substances characterized by bioisosteric replacement of the carboxylic acid and carboxamide functionality, respectively, were prepared. The results of the biological evaluation of the obtained compounds enabled us to gain further insight into structural features critical for cPLA(2)alpha inhibition.